Card table covers



Dec. 4, 1956 w. B. PARMI-:LE

CARD TABLE COVERS med Nov. 1o. 1954 Y INVENoR. ML75/i' HIRMELE 1-lrl7 TToRNEYJ f- 2,772,886 1C@ Patented Dee;` 4, 1956 2,772,886 CARD TABLE covERs Walter B. Parmele, Minnetonka Beach, Minn. Application November 10, 1954, Serial No. 468,046 z claims. (ctms-436) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in card table covers, and is directed more particularly to a card table cover having means in its longitudinal side edges for holding cards in playing positions for the individual players.

Certain card games such as Canasta, Samba and others requiring two or more decks of fifty-two cards each, in the playing thereof, can present quite a problem at times relative to the manual holding of the cards. For example, when playing Canasta, should a player be unsuccessful in picking cards from the pack which will enable him to ll certain card combinations in his.

hand, he may eventually accumulate so many cards in his hands that it becomes exceedingly difficult for him to so arrange the cards in his hands that he may quickly note, at all times, just what cards heis holding, which is of utmost importance, particularly when it becomes his turn to play.

An important object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a card table cover having means embodied in its usual peripheral skirt for holding cards in playing positions before players seated around the table,

if deemed necessary, to relieve a players hands of an excess number of cards.

A further object of the invention is to provide a card table cover providedalong each of its longitudinal side edges with means adapted to support a pluralityof cards and/or groups of cards in upright `playing positions, whereby the various players seated around the table may, if they find the cards accumulating in their hands to .the extent that they become diicult to conveniently manipulate in playingthe game, remove some of the cards from their hands` and place them in the card-holding means provided in their respective sides of the card table cover, whereby all players cards are constantly visible to him, so that he may quickly determine the proper card to play.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a card table cover having a plurality of card-holding pockets embodied in each of its longitudinal side edges adapted to hold cards in playing positions, when playing such games as Canasta, Samba, etc., which pockets are normally substantially concealed from sight, whereby the card table cover may be utilized for playing bridge and other conventional card games, as will be understood.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of a card table cover having a plurality of longitudinally spaced card-holding pockets in the peripheral skirt thereof for supporting cards and/or groups of cards in playing positions to facilitate playing certain card games; in thespecifc manner of folding the marginal edge portions of the blank from which the table cover is constructed, thereby to form the card-holding pockets; and in the provision of a card table cover of the class described which is of simple, inexpensive construction to facilitate manufacture in quantity production, and readily lends itself for use in the playing of all conventional card games, particularly card games such as Canasta and Samba,

which requiretwo or more complete decks of conventional playing cards to play the game.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention', but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a card table top showing the improved cover applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective on an enlarged scale, illustrating the preferred manner of vconstructing the Vcorners of the depending peripheral skirt of the cover; Y

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; Y v l Figure 5 is a view showing the blank from which the cover is made; and

Figure 6 is a View showingv the marginal edges of the blank folded upon themselves in the formation of the card-holding pockets.

Inv the selected embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, there is illustrated in Figure 1 for purposes of disclosure, a portionof la conventional card table comprising the usual frame 2, table top 3 and supporting legs 4. The legs are pivotally connected to the frame 2 by suitable means not shown, whereby the legs may be folded flatly against the bottom of the table to facilitate storage, as is well-known in the art.

The novel card table cover herein disclosed is generally designated by the numeral 5, and comprises a top portion or panel 6 adapted to overlie the top 3 of the table, and having a peripheral skirt, generally designated by the numeral 7. The skirt, as is customary in card table covers, is adapted tol be fitted over the edges of the card table top, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, whereby the entire top of the card table may be substantially concealed by the table cover. v

To facilitate securing the table cover in position on the table top, suitable elastic tapes 8 may be provided at theV corners of the table cover, as illustrated in Figure 2, which are so arranged that theyconstantly exert a pull on the various sections of the skirt, thereby to hold the table cover tautover the table top. In the construction shown in Figures l and 2, the skirt 7 is open, or vertically slitted at the corners of the table, as indicated at 9 in Figure 2, to facilitate slipping the cover over the table top. In other words, by slitting the skirt at the corners of the table cover, as indicated at 9, it may readily be stretched over the edges of the'card table, after which the elastic tapes will draw the skirt snugly into contact with the frame or edge 2 of the card table, as is well-known.

In Figure 2, the elastic tapes 8 are shown located at such an elevation that they engage the corners of the frame of the card table. In some instances, it may be found more desirable to locate the tapes at an elevation below the frame of the card table, whereby they may draw the lower edge portions of the skirt partially under the corners of the table when the cover is applied thereto.

As hereinbefore stated, one of the outstanding features of the present invention resides in the construction of the peripheral skirt of the table cover, and particularly in the embodiment of means therein for supporting cards or groups of cards in an upright playing position in front of each player seated around the table.

In such games, as Canasta, Samba and Bolivia which require at least two complete decks of fifty-two cards each in playing the game, the number of cards held in each players hands may, in some instances, accumulate to such an extent that it may become extremely difficult for a player to note the values of the cards whlch he holds, which may cause him to overlook certain card combinations or single cards which could be removed from his hands and placed on the table as the game progresses.

The means provided for thus supporting cards or groups of cards in playing positions in the skirt in front of each player is shown comprising a plurality of upwardly facing, longitudinally aligned pockets or slits 11, 12 and 13, as clearly indicated'in Figure 2. The pcckets.11,r12 and 13 are separated from one another by suitable means such as Vertical rows of stitches 1'4, which secure together the inner and outer walls 1S and 16 of the skirt, and thus separate the pockets 11, -12 and 13 from one another.

In the drawing the card table cover is shown formed from a single blank of textile fabric, preferably shaped as shown in Figure 5, whereby each side of the body of the blank is provided with a longitudinally extending skirtforming portion 17. To form the pockets, each skirtforming portion 17 is folded upon itself along a fold line 18 to the position shown in Figure 3. Before folding the yskirt-forming portions 17 upon themselves, the outer longitudinal edge of eac.. portion 17 is preferably hemmed, as shown `at 19 in Figure 3, thereby to provide smooth selvaged top edges for the outer walls 16 of the pockets, as will be understood by reference to Figure 3.

If desired, a longitudinally extending seam 22 may be provided along the lower marginal edge of the pocket4 forming member, as indicated in Figure 3. After the skirt-forming portions have been folded upon themselves, the end portions 23 thereof are sewn together to retain the portions 17 in their folded positions, after which suitable bindings 24 may beV secured to the end edges of the skirt-forming portions, as best illustrated in Figure 6, thereby completely closing the adjacent ends of the end pockets 11 and 13, as will be understood.

In the drawing, the skirt-forming portions of the card table cover are shown constituting an integral part of the table cover topipanel 6. In `someinstances, the outer walls 1,6 of the skirt may be formed from an independent strip of material which is -sewn'to the inner wall member along their lower marginal edges, as shown in Figure 3. It is also to be understood that the corner kconstruction of the card table cover herein disclosed maybe varied in numerous ways without-departing from the scope ofthe invention. The number of pockets provided in each skirt section may also be varied, if desired.

It is to be understood that the card table cover 5 may be made of any desired sheet material applicable for the purpose without departing from the scope of the invention. In some instances, it may also be 'found desirable to vmake the peripheral card-holding skirt portion 7in'dependently of the table top cover. When so constructed, the skirt-portion 7 could be in the form of an Vannular endless elastic member adapted to be stretched over 'the marginal edge of the card table top and supported thereon by the inherent elasticity of the material from which it is made. It could also be made in the form of an elongated strap-like member adapted to be fitted against theV edge of the card table top and detachably secured thereto by suitable means, such as a releasable adhesive, of which there are several available on the market.

The novel card table cover herein disclosed has the general appearance of a conventional card table, as the pockets 11, 12 and 13 are substantially concealed, when empty of cards or other articles. The pockets may, if desired, be utilized for holding other articles, such as a score pad and pencil, etc.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed 'as broadly 'as' permissible in view of the prior art.

I claim as my invention: n

1. A flexible attachment for a card table, said card table having a flat top surface bounded by a surrounding nar,- row edge portion depending vertically therefrom, said edge portion having a plurality of straight side portions and a vertically disposed corner at each juncture of said side portions, comprising: a flexible skirt formed to overlie and snugly fit said edge portion all around said table, said skirt comprising a plurality of sections, one for each of said side portions, each said section comprising an inner wall for overlying one of said side portions and an outer wall attached to the lower edge of said inner wall and extending upwardly therefrom substantially the height of said inner wall, said outer wall being attached to said inner wall between the top and bottom thereof at points spaced along said section yto form narrow vertically disposed pockets open at the top and adapted to hold playing card's with their upper portions extending above the top of said section sothat the indicia of said cards is visible, said section having opposite end edges shaped to lie rsepectively along the vertically disposed corners at the opposite ends of said one of said side portions, and means for holding said skirt against said narrow edge portion with each said skirt section end edge in position closely adjacent the respective corners of said edge portion. e

2.A exible attachment in accordance with claim 1 comprising a yflexible top panel portion adapted to overlie said at top surface of said table, 'said exible skirt depending from said top panel portion.

References cited 'inthe'fne of this patent UNITED 'STATES PATENTS he "Q41 

